Dismissing Kreacher, Sirius shut the bedroom door behind him. The room was silent, with a single candle throwing guttering light across the closed curtains of Regulus's bed. Sirius let out a breath, his head throbbing with sobriety, and the smell of the cologne wafting from his dress robes nauseating him somewhat. He tugged them off, flinging them onto the floor for Kreacher to launder. As he stretched and walked towards the window, he noticed it opened onto a small balcony.

Scanning behind him to make sure that Regulus was asleep, Sirius slid the window open and climbed out. The cool air wrapping him in the fragrance of night-blooming jasmine. Taking several deep breaths, his head spinning as the tension in his neck and shoulders softened. He dug into his tunic, pulling out a small rectangular mirror. And checking behind him, Sirius silently cast the Muffiliato charm before bringing the mirror to his mouth.

'Prongs, are you there?' He whispered to his reflection.

An owl hooted, a low mournful sound, as it flew over him and the breeze rustled the nearby cypress trees.

'Alright, Padfoot–how's Italy?' Came the reply at last, as a boy with messy jet-black hair and round glasses replaced Sirius's own reflection.

'Hmm let me see, I've already had a fight with the Slytherin, and my child bride just told me that I smell like dragon dung.' He grinned 'So it's going as expected.'

James laughed. 'Is she fit at least?' he said with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Sirius felt a jolt in the pit of his stomach and smirked while he said as pompously as he could, 'I refuse to objectify my future wife by answering that.'

'Ah,' said James in a mock conciliatory tone, 'Bad luck, mate.'

Sirius's face flushed, 'No…. I mean… objectively she's alright,' He shrugged as nonchalantly as he could, while hastily adding, 'In a stuck-up pureblood sort of way.'

There was a pause. 'So you're going along with it?'

Sirius sighed, the good humor having evaporated, nausea once more returning to his stomach. Images of dark eyes, his father's face, sapphire necklaces, and the Black family tapestry flashing across his mind. 'I'm not sure,' he said at last.

'It is a little mental,' James replied. 'You're only 16.'

Sirius snorted, 'Like you wouldn't marry Evans right now if you could.'

James blushed 'It would be my choice though.'

'Yeah, I guess it would.' Sirius replied haltingly, the tension having returned to his shoulders and neck.

'Besides, Evans is a muggle-born so there would be none of the pedigree bollocks, that your lot goes on about.' James said, not bothering to hide the besotted look he got whenever Lily Evans was mentioned.

'Prongs I think you've gotten too excited about this hypothetical situation where Evans is marrying you.' Sirius said, rolling his eyes, exasperated.

'Just saying, it's mental.' James replied, ignoring Sirius's eye roll. ' I tried explaining to Wormtail and Moony when they asked why you're in Italy. They don't get it.'

'What don't they get?' Sirius asked, rubbing his eyes that were itching with exhaustion.

'Well….errrm….… practically all the girls at school fancy you. If you actually wanted a wife at 16, there are plenty of willing candidates.' James's voice became tentative ' But I explained, the whole being from the 'right' family thing….. and well…. It just sounds like stuff You-know-who supporters say.'

' My parents are many things, but they're not death eaters.' Sirius shot back.

'I'm not saying they are, mate,' said James soothingly 'But they don't completely disagree with him, do they?'

'There's an enormous gulf between being stuck-up old-fashioned snobs and wanting to murder muggleborns,' Sirius said finally 'Father can barely stand up to mother dearest, I hardly see him donning a mask and torturing for fun.' The silence that seemed to be a feature of all his recent interactions returned, and Sirius felt a tiredness that caused his bones to ache.

'What about Regulus?' James asked.

'What about him?' Sirius replied.

'His crowd of mates aren't just snobs.'

Sirius snorted, 'Reg would never have the stomach,' A picture of Regulus as a little boy rose in his mind's eye. His grey eyes, wide as saucers as Sirius, tried to persuade him to steal cakes from the kitchen. The memory set a feeling of warmth creeping across his chest and was instantly snuffed out as he recalled those same eyes smouldering with fury a few hours earlier.

'Besides, a Black bows to no man.' He finished sardonically.

'I just don't want you to become tangled in something you can't get out of.' James said, his brow furrowed in concern.

'Thanks, mum but I'm a big boy and can look after myself.' Sirius said, flashing him a grin, 'We're an hour ahead of you, so I should get some sleep.'

'Night Pads.'

'Sweet dreams Prongs,' Sirius said with a wink as the mirror returned to only displaying his reflection.

Sirius placed it back inside his tunic but remained on the balcony. Tilting his face up to the cosmos, he tried to encourage clichéd thoughts about his own insignificance and, most importantly, the insignificance of his problems.

He scoured the sky for the Dogstar, and it twinkled down at him, the brightest part of the Canis Major constellation. It was a habit formed in his childhood and started by his Granny Melania. Who would always make him find the star, before allowing him to stay up past his bedtime in her greenhouse, feeding him scones smothered in her homemade preserves as she pruned her moonflowers and sang muggle love songs.

Despite his exhaustion, his thoughts chattered incessantly. Continuing to gaze at the stars, he connected to the second beating sound in his chest, reaching for the heartbeat, using the magic that thrummed in his veins. The beating became a pulse that shimmered over his entire body. Transforming his dark hair into black fur that grew to cover every inch of his skin. His hands and feet turning into giant paws, as a tail grew from the base of his spine. And finally, the calming peace of Padfoot's mind, providing a welcome retreat from Sirius's whirring one.

The night air shimmered as its fragrance became more acute, the metallic electric tang of magic, blending with the woody perfume of Cyprus trees and the powdery softness of Damascene roses. And in the distance, his nose caught the tantalising whiff of rabbit.

Before Sirius could think, Padfoot jumped from the balcony into the rose garden, following the rabbit's scent trail, his mind singularly focused on its goal of finding the animal. With the breeze ruffling his fur and grass crunching beneath his paws, a wild exhilaration filled him as he let out several barks. He continued to run until his tongue lolled from his mouth and the smoothly manicured lawn turned into a wilder, ancient woodland.

He ploughed on, the scent of the rabbit long forgotten, scrambling over moss-covered rocks as the poplar forest filled his snout with the smell of balsam and decaying leaves.

He felt the wards before he saw the gates; the magic causing his fur to stand on end and for his body to let out an involuntary growl. And he immediately turned away from them, playfully snapping at some fireflies as he continued his run through the forest. He ran until his limbs shook and his panting no longer cooled him. And while stopping to take a drink from a stream that wound itself through the trees, he caught another scent that stirred his human mind. It reminded him of peach cobbler and vanilla chantilly cream, and he followed it as eagerly as he had the rabbit.

He found it leading him back towards the house and the formal gardens. He galloped forwards, gravel replacing the soft earth beneath his paws, and he skidded to a halt as wand-light caught his attention. Creeping towards it, his paws now silent on the gravel, he spied a figure sitting on the edge of a fountain.

She was wearing a simple cotton shift and was reading a thick letter, her brow furrowed and an obvious look of tension in her shoulders. Sirius suppressed Padfoot's urge to bound up to her and encourage a game of fetch. Instead, he crouched in the shadows, not daring to make a sound lest she discover him.

Aeliana sighed as she stared up at the night sky, clutching the letter to her chest. Tears streamed down her face as she re-read the letter, pacing back and forth and dropping each sheet on the floor beside her once she was finished. She sobbed for several minutes, clutching the top of her arms, the sound of her grief filling the air as she collapsed into a heap by the strewn pages. Sirius felt a surge of guilt at having intruded on such a moment and began to attempt to creep away as silently as possible.

He had retreated several paces, when she straightened and while wiping her face fiercely muttered, 'Incendio,' causing the papers to burn and the ashes to blow into the fountain.

The guilt now surging through him, Sirius started a leisurely trot back towards his bedroom. He located the balcony with relative ease, and tapping into his human heartbeat, he reversed the magic that had transformed him into Padfoot.

Tumbling back through the window, he immediately noticed his father seated on a leather chair by his bed.

'Good evening Sirius,' said Orion in a mild tone, folding the paper he had been reading, his eyes lingering on Sirius's tunic and leggings 'Been for a little jaunt, have we?'

'I didn't realise I was a prisoner,' Sirius replied in an equally mild tone, tilting his head at his father.

'You are not, but should you choose to enjoy the grounds, one would expect you to do so while properly attired.' Orion's tone remained aloof, but Sirius could sense the impending storm. 'Did you enjoy the library?'

'We didn't make it, she said she wanted to sleep.' Sirius replied, perfectly aware that he had just seen evidence to the contrary.

'How unfortunate, the library is one of the finest on the continent.' Orion drawled; Sirius, who felt like a mouse being toyed with by a sadistic cat, braced himself for an argument.

'Yes, very unfortunate father.' Sirius replied, rolling his eyes 'Could you please cut to the chase and get to the bit about me being a disappointment, a blemish on the house of Black, an embarrassment to you and mother.' He stared straight at his father, counting each insult on his fingers, before stating as calmly as he could. 'As I'm tired and I want to sleep.'

'While your attitude had much to be desired,' Orion pursed his lips while studying his son's face 'I am here simply to inform you that tomorrow lunchtime you will accompany the girl to Alicudi and will be expected to behave in a gentlemanly manner.' He emphasised the last two words while reaching into his robe and pulling out a small sack, which he threw onto Sirus's bed. 'This should cover it.'

Sirus glanced at the bag of gold and raised an eyebrow. 'Thought I was just taking her to lunch, not buying her wedding jewels.'

Orion's lips twitched, but he maintained his look of calm detachment. 'Your grandfather would abide nothing less than overt generosity when courting a match.'

'Oh, so we're resorting to buying her love for me?' Sirius stifled a yawn but maintained his ironic smile. 'Thanks for the vote of confidence.'

Orion raised an eyebrow 'Given your conduct thus far and your shenanigans at school, it is a wonder he has not authorised me to clear our vault.'

'It is a brilliant strategy.' Sirius snorted, 'Particularly given the destitution she's living in. I'll show her the high life tomorrow and she'll be begging to marry me.'

'Do not be so crass.' Orion shook his head. 'You are of equal rank, despite her so-called choice in the matter, and you should ensure that you leave her in no doubt of that.'

'Is there anything else?' He looked at his father, smiling innocently 'After all I have to make sure I'm well-rested for my day of courting, wouldn't want grandfather to resort to bankrupting us simply to secure my heirs.'

Orion sighed, rubbing his face as he rose from his chair. 'Just conduct yourself properly, that is all I ask.' Orion moved past his son and with a flick of his wand, the chair vanishing as he left the room.

--

Saturday 5th June 1976

Sirius was once again woken by a house-elf, although this one was less welcome than the random Marcellus elf from the preceding evening.

'Young master smells like a vagrant.' Kreacher informed him while opening his bed curtains, peering down at him while wrinkling his snout. Sirius heard Regulus snort and burrowed into his bedsheets in an attempt to ignore them.

Unfortunately, Kreacher appeared to take this as a challenge, climbing on the bed until he reached Sirius's pillow and leaning down towards him loudly declaring,

'His smell is offending Kreacher, and he must bathe immediately.'

'Let us not forget the offense to his brother.' Regulus muttered from across the room. 'You truly smell like a drain.'

'Sod off, both of you, whatever happened to a simple good morning,' Sirius groused, forcing himself up and crossing the bedroom to the bathing room, Kreacher trailing after him muttering,

'Master Sirius must wash his hair twice, Kreacher will not chaperone him while he has the hygiene of a Flobberworm.'

Following a long bath, and an assessment by Kreacher who informed him that he now met the basic standards of hygiene, he was escorted to breakfast, taken on one of the many terraces of the house.

He found his father and brother waiting for him. There was no sign of either Leone or Aeliana and Sirius assumed this was because etiquette dictated that within a private residence, breakfast was a meal shared with immediate family only.

And much like at Grimmauld, breakfast was the usual silent affair of reading letters and newspapers, with the occasional comment on the weather or the rulings of the Wizengamot. However, instead of kippers and eggs, the table was laden with fresh fruit, an array of pastries, and a coffee that was so strong Sirius was convinced he would never need sleep again.

Having been given permission to leave the table, the boys returned to their bedroom. And as Sirius wondered what he should do with himself until lunch, he noticed a book sitting on his bed. It was bound in red leather, the embossed gold script read,

'Consciousness in transfiguration; an exploration by Zen De Visser.'

He spent the morning on the balcony, devouring the book with the coffee he had ordered Kreacher to bring him. The day was cooler than the previous one, and he enjoyed several long moments of basking in the warm sunlight with a rare feeling of peace settling over his mind.

Regulus sat on the opposite side doing the same thing, but with a book about quidditch strategy, his pale skin glowing in the sunlight.

Sirius was just at the point of wondering how he could use some of the transfiguration theory to have greater control of Padfoot's instincts when Regulus broke his train of thought.

'It's almost lunch.' Regulus said abruptly 'We should get going.'

'Oh is this a family trip?' Sirius asked, not entirely sure what he wanted the answer to be.

'No, I am spending the afternoon, touring the Marcellus art collection with Leone. And father is spending the day seeing to our banking investments with the Sforzas.' Regulus spoke in a tone that showed he had not forgotten their fight from the previous night but was attempting cordiality.

'Right,' Sirius replied stiffly, but to maintain the fragile peace he added. 'Enjoy yourself.'

'I would say the same to you, but I do not want to encourage you.' Regulus raised his eyebrow at his brother, and for a moment all seemed well between them.

'I'll make you proud.' He countered with a mock bow.

--

Half an hour later, he found himself back in the field from the previous day. Kreacher and Gigi double-checking the spokes of the carriage as Aeliana gazed out the window towards the trees. A breeze lifting the tendrils of her dark hair from beneath her emerald headband, which matched her gossamer gown. A gown which his mother would derisively say was cut in the 'Italian fashion,' exposing her collarbone and forearms, in a way that heavier English robes would never dare.

She turned towards him. No trace of the emotions Sirius had witnessed in the garden the previous night.

'Did you enjoy the book?' She inquired, the direct sunlight turning her dark eyes into pools of melted honey.

'I've not yet finished it.' He answered as they jolted into the air, rising above the trees and into the clouds. Sirius suddenly becoming aware that they were alone in the confined space of the carriage.

Her brow arched, and she looked at him appraisingly. 'You have had all morning.'

'It's 900 pages long, and I didn't realise that you'd set it as the required reading for this outing.' He declared, arching his brow to mirror her expression.

'I just wanted to have an informed discussion with you, instead of one where you accuse me of being an animal torturer.' She smiled slightly, smoothing the front of her dress, which was decorated with embroidered flowers and birds that had been enchanted to flutter their wings.

'I never accused you of such a thing.' He responded slightly indignantly,

'You heavily implied it,' she stated simply, an odd expression on her face as her gaze lingered on him.

'Well thankfully, you've got all day to prove to me that you're an innocent soul.' He suggested, forcing an arrogant grin onto his face as he met her eyes, which were continuing to appraise him.

'I will be proving nothing to you.' She stated simply, before turning back to the window. The fragile cordiality seemingly broken again. Sirius lapsed into thought, studying the girl opposite him, wondering what had made this haughty princess sob in a darkened garden. He found himself unable to reconcile the girl from that moment with the one in front of him, so he continued to stare at her for some time, studying her proud face, perfectly coiffed hair, and immaculate clothes.

The carriage had reached the coast when Sirius asked the question that had slipped his mind thus far.

'Where are we actually going?'

'Your father did not tell you?' She replied, tearing her eyes from the waves crashing against the rocky coast and once more focusing on him.

'He mentioned somewhere.' He wracked his brains and offered, 'Alibuda?'

'Alicudi,' she corrected, 'It's a small island with a wizarding village much like Hogsmeade.' They were now flying over open water, sunlight glimmering across the ultramarine expanse, as the salty sea breeze ruffled his twice washed hair.

'A fantastic place for you to continue to charm me.' She added dryly.

'By the end of our excursion, I promise you'll be imploring me to marry you.' He smirked and winked and was surprised when this was met with a genuine laugh.

Sirius noticed that the carriage had begun jostling with broomsticks and flying Vespas, riders shouting at each other as they swerved to avoid a collision. He leaned out the window to get a better view of the scooters. And spent several long minutes recalling the diagrams of Vespa engines, from the various muggle magazines he had bought from the newsagent at the beginning of last summer, while theorising about how they had been enchanted to fly.

An island dotted with bright pink buildings appeared to be their destination. Large rocks that jutted out to sea surrounded the island, filled with merpeople chatting amongst each other, while a large Kelpie basked in the shallows, its mane tickling the bottom of azure-coloured gondolas. As they descended, Sirius saw streets lined with lemon trees, filled with shoppers eating ice cream as they browsed. And from a large fairground, he could hear the laughter of small children and the roar of a dragon.

The carriage hovered above the streets and landed with the customary bump. The teenagers shared an awkward look before the door opened and Kreacher beckoned them out.